very annoyed - lack of information - asking wrong people - apparently!

dirtyepic

Hi everyone!

I am so annoyed at the whole 'system' at the moment. In fact, I think you could describe my feelings as 'bitter' and I feel like screaming!

I was made redundant at the end of November and signed at the Jobcentre on December 1st 2008.

I asked how much I would be receiving and was told it would £60.50 per week.

My husband isn't on a great wage and we have a mortgage, utility bills etc just like everyone else that have to be paid. I have gone from receiving a good wage of approx £1800 per month to now receiving £242 per month. My husband comes out with just over £1100 per month.

When I first heard the amount I would be claiming for I got quite upset. I felt absolutely cheated. I have worked for 24 years and paid full tax and NI, even when I was at Uni I got a full time job and studied full time whilst paying all my tax and NI. I know this is the situation for an awful lot of people but I got a dreadful shock when I heard the figure I was having to live on. I am now dependent on my husband. I have never depended on anyone since leaving home and this was also a shock.

I asked during the initial Jobcentre interview was there anything else I could claim. Nothing. No further information was given to me. No advice on who I should ask, where I should go. I signed the forms and promised to all I could to find myself employment.

Two weeks ago I was informed by a friend that I maybe could claim Council Tax Benefit. So filled in all the forms, gathered all the evidence of all of our money (enough to cover the mortgage for two further months) and handed all bank statements for the last two months, pay slips for my husband, my last pay slips, proof that I was claiming benefit. The girl who dealt with my application then informed me that I hadn't supplied the most recent bank statements - when I explained that I hadn't yet received my January statements but supplied a print out of all recent transactions she said that that may hinder my application!!! Urgh?!!!! What am I supposed to do?!! She then asked why I hadn't claimed before now I told her I didn't know I could be eligible for this benefit. She said that wasn't a valid reason!! So I questioned her comment. She said I hadn't asked the right people?!! How was I supposed to know, I have no friends or family who are claiming this benefit, she said I should have called into the Council Offices. I have no reason to pop into the Council Offices, our Council Tax is paid by direct debit, we do not have a council house, we do not require council repairs, there is no reason. 'Not good enough' was her reply. I told her I had asked at the Jobcentre and nobody suggested this benefit.

Later that day I was informed that I could be claiming Working Tax Credits. I had no idea what Working Tax Credit are. I thought they were only for people with children/family.

I also signed on that day. When I went into the Jobcentre, 5 minutes early, 3 jobs to apply for. I asked about funded training. I want to train as an NVQ Assessor but was told by 'Mick' my advisor, that there was no funding, anywhere. I asked how I would find out about it, his answer: 'it changes every day!' so again I asked how I would find out. He repeated his answer.

I tried to explain to him that I have the skills and experience to become a NVQ assessor and there were an awful lot of NVQ assessor positions out there (and probably going to even more due to current unemployment figures) and all that was stopping me was because I cant afford to take the courses. He still said he couldn't help me. I asked who I should ask for help and he then told me that 'he was only allowed to give me 5 minutes of his time, due to being extremely busy, he wasn't in the position to advise me and he should move me on!'

He then said that I hadn't filled in the form as evidence that I had applied for any work, checked the internet/newspapers/recruitment agencies etc. When I said that there wasn't enough room to fit the information on, he kind of smirked. Guess who started to smirk when I pulled out 8 sheets of A4 paper with a print out of the list of companies I had contacted, the jobs I had applied for and records of telephone calls chasing work.

Guess what kind of mood I was in at this point. It was laughable! He then said he would have to make an appointment with an 'advisor, upstairs' so I requested this and he tapped away on his pc. I asked when the appointment was and he said, 'if you do get an appointment, you will receive a letter, that should be within 3 weeks!!'

God, I can't win!!!

I have since then enrolled at my local FE College. After seeing numerous adverts to gain more qualifications and maybe new skills, I thought I will make the most of my time off work! I have since been told that I am able to enrol on numerous courses to study and this will be covered by funding but I am only allowed to sit one exam!!!

Now come on!!! You have to laugh don't you?!!!

I am doing all I can to get myself out of this awful situation. I am banging my head against every wall!!!

What does an enthusiastic, honest, hardworking person have to do to use the system to get her back into work, gain new skills and GET OFF JOBSEEKERS ALLOWANCE?

Right!! Rant over.

Sorry about the length and bitterness of my message.

Actually just to get the picture straight here. I am not slagging off all jobcentreplus staff, most of them are very nice, pleasant people to deal with, Council office staff - again others I have since dealt with have been extremely pleasant. I have since started to apply for positions in council offices and jobcentreplus offices. Imagine eh?!!!

I am off now to trawl the internet for more positions that I will have to apply for.

Cheers everyone for allowing me to rant!!

T
aka dirtyepic

itsallagame_2

Keep positive, welcome to the horrors of claiming state benefits.

I worked for CAB many years ago and it was a nightmare trying to fill in the paperwork, it appears to be as awkward as ever.

Good luck with your job hunting

tomstickland

It sounds like a system designed not to help you.

busy_mom_2

Please bear with jobcente staff we can be useful

Every office has different levels of funding and availability. We can only refer you to what the goverment give us which isn't a lot. we are still waiting for me brown to deliver his promises but so far we have been given skills health checks and programme centre:mad:

We are not able to also offer any benefit advice in case we get it wrong!!!!

There are so many benefits out there and in the old days we would have experts in every benefit so you would be passed around but eventually get the right info , sorry not any more, we are expected to know a little about everything which can be dangerous.

As or the wait to see an adviser I'm afraid this is how is at the moment. the office I work in we are staffed to take around 70 to 80 claims per week then see new deal and restart interviews in between, we are currently taking around 120 -130 claims per week so something has to give as no extra staff have been taken on:eek:

halight

Hang in there!!!!
Iv got my first interview this morning for claiming JSA. Iv never claimed before as iv worked since i left school 12 years ago. I was hoping to do some training and learn new skills.

All the best i hope that you get somewere with the [EMAIL="ba$t@rds"]ba$t@rds[/EMAIL] and that you get a new job soon

sonofcod

I'm in the same situation, but was advised if I attended a course for extra qualifications I would not get Jobseekers allowance as I'm no longer Job Seeking

p00hsticks

dirtyepic wrote: »

Hi everyone!
Later that day I was informed that I could be claiming Working Tax Credits. I had no idea what Working Tax Credit are. I thought they were only for people with children/family.

Sorry to hear of your troubles - you sound quite determined to find something though and I hope you do soon.

With regard to Working Tax Credits - you may find that your husband rather than yourself has to put the claim in, as I thikn they're intended for people who work at least 16 hours a week (although they will consider your case as a couple).

In general, I find this government site a useful source of information on all sorts of things such as benefits, employment, consumer rights etc. You may find it useful....

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm

LittleVoice

sonofcod wrote: »

I'm in the same situation, but was advised if I attended a course for extra qualifications I would not get Jobseekers allowance as I'm no longer Job Seeking

Depends on how many hours a week the course takes. If under 16 hours/week it is like having a part-time job of under 16 hours where you can sign on while seeking additional work.

If the jobcentre arrange for you to attend a course directly, this can be over 16 hours and you are no longer counted as unemployed. Instead of JSA you receive a payment which is an equivalent amount.

dirtyepic

Hi again everyone!! Thanks for your kind messages and support and advice.

I am staying very positive but it is hard!!

Thankfully, I went off for an interview yesterday and was offered the job on the spot. I think it was a sign of desperation on both parties.

The job is not my usual career, I am going back to being a construction site secretary, a job a loved a few years ago. I was sent for this via a recruitment agency and have since negotiated my salary etc. I know how much the construction firm is paying the recruitment agency and they are taking just over a third of the total. I don't know if that's the norm but I can't grumble. I am lucky I now have a job.

This job is less than half my usual wage. I have to travel 3 times the distance. But I am looking forward to earning my keep again.

I do have a problem/question though: the agency told me today that my hourly rate apparently includes holiday pay. I do not accrue holidays and therefore do not get paid holidays. Is this correct? The young lad/gentleman at the agency said this is the norm now for long term temporary positions. No holidays accrued yet I was under the impression that you do accrue holidays. Its funny how he never mentioned it before I negotiated and haggled to get my hourly rate increased to the rate we agreed. Anyway a bit confused on the system! Any advice?

I really am no good at this unemployment/re-employment albeit temporarily/getting correct advice malarkey am I?

Thank goodness for MSEs out there!!!

Cheers

T
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